NASCAR Playoffs Tag

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The final race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season was held at Phoenix Raceway for the fifth straight year last Sunday. Ryan Blaney was looking to retain the championship, but had to deal with his Team Penske teammate Joey Logano, William Byron, and Championship 4 debutant Tyler Reddick. The finale was also noteworthy for being pole sitter and 2017 Cup Series champion Martin Truex, Jr.’s swan song as a full-time competitor, and the final race for Stewart-Haas Racing before they closed doors after the 312-lapRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The final race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season was held at Phoenix Raceway for the fifth straight year last Saturday. Cole Custer was looking to retain the championship, but had to deal with Justin Allgaier, AJ Allmendinger, and Austin Hill, who were all each going for their first title. As much as the championship battle was spotlighted, it was Riley Herbst who stole the show by winning the finale to cap off Stewart-Haas Racing’s NXS program. Behind Herbst was Allgaier, who was finally theRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The final race of the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season was held at Phoenix Raceway for the fifth straight year last Friday. Christian Eckes, Grant Enfinger, Corey Heim, and Ty Majeski were all looking for their first series title during the Championship 4 round. For much of the 150-lap race, it was Majeski who was the class of the field and ended up capturing his the championship. A moment the racer out of Wisconsin will never forget after all the trails and tribulations he’s facedRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Ford Performance drivers have certainly hit its stride when it comes to NASCAR’s Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway with Joey Logano and Ty Majeski winning titles in the sport’s national touring divisions. Entering last week’s finale, Ford had a hot streak of four straight championships dating back to Logano’s second Cup title in 2022 that was extended to five when Majeski won the Craftsman Truck Series title. However, a shot at six consecutive touring titles came up short in the Xfinity Series when Cole Custer lostRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. — Stewart-Haas Racing assured they’re going to go out with a bang at Phoenix Raceway. As far as the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race, they certainly did with Riley Herbst having a career night, leading 167 of 213 laps en route to his second NXS win of the season. While Herbst had the thrill of victory, his SHR teammate Cole Custer dealt with the agony of defeat. The defending series champion was unsuccessful in his title defense as he finished eighth while Justin AllgaierRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. — Capitalizing in every opportunity has been the tale of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano and the No. 22 Team Penske crew. Whether it’s coming out on top at Nashville after five overtimes, advancing into the Round of 8 after Playoff contender Alex Bowman was disqualified to then excelling on pit strategy at Las Vegas that got him in his record breaking sixth Championship 4 appearance. Logano has kept his mindset clear this whole time — team first rather than himself. TheRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. — In the midst of facing the unknown while having a career year, Tyler Reddick has kept himself cool, calm, and collective leading up to his first Championship 4 appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series. The two-time former Xfinity Series champion collected three wins and career highs 12 top-fives and 20 top-10s that helped Reddick win the regular season championship over Kyle Larson. Following an unforgettable last lap victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway two weeks ago, the opportunity of bringing home a championship for himself,Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. — “Heim Time” is here to stay for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaign. Heading into the NCTS Championship Race, Corey Heim enters Phoenix Raceway with another a shot at a championship and will be staying with TRICON Garage for a third year. Despite the controversy from last year’s Championship 4 finale where his clashes with Carson Hocevar are still burning in the back of many people’s minds, Heim takes Friday’s finale with a cool and calm approach as he gets a chanceRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Hendrick Motorsports and Martinsville Speedway have gone together like glue over the past 40 years. A lot of highs and lows have happened, and Sunday’s Xfinity 500 was no different. While one Hendrick car will fight for a championship at Phoenix Raceway, the other two who were in the Round of 8 will not. Those who ended up with the short straw were Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Neither former champion will be a part of the Arizona pageantry after their Championship 4 bids were dashedRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Another night of tempers flaring at Martinsville Speedway featuring one driver’s bid of advancing into the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 evaporates. Last night, it was a verbal confrontation between Taylor Gray and race winner Christian Eckes. Fast forward to Saturday night, it was a verbal confrontation with an attempted punch from Chandler Smith to Cole Custer after the National Debt Relief 250 concluded. Without a NASCAR ride in 2025, Chandler’s mission was simple — win and advance for a shot at a Xfinity Series championshipRead More